Toronto authorities are set to provide an update on the tragic killing of 20-year-old Shivank Avasthi, a University of Toronto student who was fatally shot near the Scarborough campus just before the holiday season.
A press briefing is scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. to share the latest developments in the case.
Avasthi was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound on December 23 along a paved trail in the Highland Creek Valley, in close proximity to the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) campus.
Responding to a call about “unknown trouble,” officers arrived at the scene near Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road at approximately 3:30 p.m. to find Avasthi injured. Tragically, he was pronounced dead on-site.
The perpetrator reportedly fled the scene before law enforcement’s arrival, and as of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Avasthi’s untimely death marked the 41st homicide in Toronto for the year 2025.
Authorities have previously issued a plea for any witnesses, dashcam footage, or surveillance recordings from the Highland Creek area on the afternoon of December 23.
According to reports from The Varsity, U of T’s student newspaper, Avasthi was a dedicated third-year life sciences student at UTSC. Additionally, he was actively involved in the campus cheerleading team and held a leadership role in the powerlifting club. A designated memorial area is being arranged near the humanities wing steps on campus, where fellow students can pay their respects by leaving flowers and messages in the upcoming days.